You’ve discovered our in-depth look at 44 Magnum ballistics from significant ammo manufacturers.
Save time by clicking the links below to jump to your favorite ammo company and find the ballistics data you need for your preferred factory load.
Jump to an ammo company: Ammo Inc | Atomic | Barnes | Black Hills | Blazer | Buffalo Bore | Corbon | Federal | Fiocchi | Hornady | HSM | Magtech | PMC | Prvi Partizan (PPU) | Remington | Sellier & Bellot | Sierra | Swift Cartridge | Underwood | Winchester
Jump to a ballistics chart: Black Hills Honey Badger 44 Magnum 160 grain HB | Black Hills New Pistol 44 Magnum 240 grain JHP | Black Hills New Pistol 44 Magnum 300 grain JHP
Jump to a ballistics chart: Buffalo Bore Anti-Personnel 44 Magnum 180 grain JHP | Buffalo Bore Anti-Personnel 44 Magnum 180 grain MC LHP | Buffalo Bore Anti-Personnel 44 Magnum 200 grain HC Wadcutter | Buffalo Bore-Barnes 44 Magnum 200 grain XPB | Buffalo Bore-Barnes 44 Magnum 225 grain XPB | Buffalo Bore Deer Grenade 44 Magnum +P 240 grain MC GC | Buffalo Bore Low Recoil 44 Magnum 240 grain JHP | Buffalo Bore Low Recoil 44 Magnum 255 grain Keith GC | Buffalo Bore Dangerous Game 44 Magnum 265 grain MonoMetal WFN | Buffalo Bore Heavy 44 Magnum 270 grain JFN | Buffalo Bore Heavy 44 Magnum 300 grain JFN | Buffalo Bore Heavy 44 Magnum 305 grain LBT-LFN | Buffalo Bore Heavy 44 Magnum +P+ 340 grain HC LFN GC
Jump to a ballistics chart: Corbon 44 Rem Mag 165 grain JHP | Corbon 44 Rem Mag 225 grain DPX | Corbon 44 Rem Mag 320 grain Hunter Hard Cast LFN
Jump to a ballistics chart: Federal Power-Shok 44 Magnum 180 grain JHP | Federal Power-Shok 44 Magnum 240 grain JHP | Federal Premium 44 Magnum 225 grain XPB | Federal Premium 44 Magnum 280 grain A-Frame | Federal American Eagle 44 Magnum 240 grain JHP | Federal Fusion 44 Magnum 240 grain FSP | Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok 44 Magnum 240 grain JHP | Federal HammerDown 44 Magnum 270 grain Bonded SP
Jump to a ballistics chart: Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 44 Magnum 200 grain SJHP | Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 44 Magnum 240 grain JHP | Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 44 Magnum 240 grain JSP | Fiocchi Hyperformance Defense 44 Magnum 200 grain XTP | Fiocchi Hyperformance Defense 44 Magnum 240 grain XTP
Jump to a ballistics chart: Hornady Custom 44 Magnum 200 grain XTP | Hornady Custom 44 Magnum 240 grain XTP | Hornady Custom 44 Magnum 300 grain XTP | Hornady Handgun Hunter 44 Magnum 200 grain MonoFlex | Hornady LeveRevolution 44 Magnum 225 grain FTX
Jump to a ballistics chart: HSM Cowboy Action 44 Magnum 200 grain Lead RNFP | HSM Cowboy Action 44 Magnum 240 grain Lead SWC | HSM Training 44 Magnum 240 grain Plated FP | HSM Pro Pistol 44 Magnum 240 grain JHC | HSM Pro Pistol 44 Magnum 300 grain JSP | HSM Self-Defense 44 Magnum 300 grain XTP | HSM Bearload 44 Magnum 305 grain LWFN GC
Jump to a ballistics chart: Magtech 44 Magnum 240 grain FMJ | Magtech 44 Magnum 240 grain SJSP
Jump to a ballistics chart: PMC Bronze 44 Magnum 180 grain JHP | PMC Bronze 44 Magnum 240 grain TCSP | PMC eRange 44 Magnum 240 grain EMJ NT
Jump to a ballistics chart: Prvi Partizan 44 Magnum 180 grain JFP | Prvi Partizan 44 Magnum 240 grain JFP | Prvi Partizan 44 Magnum 180 grain JHP | Prvi Partizan 44 Magnum 240 grain JHP | Prvi Partizan 44 Magnum 240 grain SJFP | Prvi Partizan 44 Magnum 240 grain SJHP | Prvi Partizan 44 Magnum 300 grain SJFP
Jump to a ballistics chart: Remington UMC 44 Magnum 180 grain JSP | Remington HTP 44 Magnum 240 grain JSP | Remington HTP 44 Magnum 240 grain SJHP
Jump to a ballistics chart: Sellier and Bellot 44 Rem Mag 240 grain SJHP | Sellier and Bellot 44 Rem Mag 240 grain SP
Jump to a ballistics chart: Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum 160 grain Xtreme Hunter | Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum 180 grain XTP | Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum 200 grain JHP | Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum 240 grain JHP | Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum 300 grain JHP | Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum 200 grain Wadcutter | Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum 220 grain Xtreme Penetrator | Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum 225 grain XPB | Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum 245 grain FMJ FN | Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum 255 grain Keith SWC GC | Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum 305 grain LFN GC | Underwood Ammo 44 Magnum +P+ 340 grain LFN GC
Jump to a ballistics chart: Winchester Silvertip 44 Magnum 210 grain JHP | Winchester Super-X 44 Magnum 210 grain Silvertip JHP | Winchester Super-X 44 Magnum 240 grain HSP | Winchester USA 44 Magnum 240 grain JSP | Winchester Big Bore 44 Magnum 240 grain SJHP
Administrative Note: The information above comes from the manufacturer and is only informational. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load. When manufacturer ballistic data was unavailable, ballistics were calculated using a ballistic calculator.
The 44 Remington Magnum is commonly found in lever-action rifles like the Marlin 1894, bolt-action rifles like the Ruger 77/44, and too many revolvers to count.
Although Elmer Keith and Smith & Wesson designed this magnum cartridge for handguns, its effective range can be significantly extended when fired through a rifle’s longer barrel. Even so, shooters should note that the projectiles most often used for hunting are not conducive for long-range shooting. Even when the 44 Mag’s muzzle velocity and striking energy are increased by a rifle barrel, its terminal ballistics are likely to prove inadequate for taking medium game at ranges beyond 150 yards.
44 Magnum loads are also often fired in a carbine, which has a shorter barrel than a rifle but longer than a handgun. A 44 Mag carbine’s effective range and terminal ballistics accordingly fall somewhere between those of a rifle and a handgun.
A bullet’s flight path is also called its trajectory. Seasoned shooters measure the trajectory in inches of bullet drop or minutes of angle (MOA).
A flatter trajectory is better for long-range shooting as it requires fewer adjustments to compensate for bullet drop. The 6.5 Creedmoor is an excellent example of a cartridge with a flat trajectory; the 44 Mag, on the other hand, is not.
Below you will find a sample 44 Mag bullet drop chart that gives you a general idea of the cartridge’s trajectory.
Note: The chart above is an example of one 44 Magnum load, and actual ballistic performance may vary depending on bullet weight, lot, barrel length, and environmental conditions while shooting.
Muzzle velocity is measured in feet per second (fps); it is the velocity at which the bullet exits the gun barrel. Generally, a longer barrel produces a higher muzzle velocity, as it gives propellant gasses more time to exert their energy against the bullet. This is why 44 Mag rifles offer slightly better long-range ballistics than 44 Mag handguns.
The muzzle velocity of the 44 Mag depends heavily on the bullet weight you choose to fire. Generally speaking, muzzle velocity ranges between 975 fps and 1,804 fps.
The Prvi Partizan 240 grain jacketed hollow point has a muzzle velocity of 1,541 fps – somewhat average, as should be expected from the 44 Mag’s middleweight projectile. However, the Sellier & Bellot 240 grain soft point has a lower velocity of 1,280 fps, whereas the Black Hills 160 grain HB has a higher velocity of 1,700 fps. In short, bullet weight is not the sole factor which determines muzzle velocity.
It’s important to note that factory loads rarely meet the higher ballistical standards used when reloading and handloading, but these numbers will give you an excellent idea of where to begin and what these handgun cartridges are capable of.
Muzzle energy is measured in foot pounds (ft lbs) of energy. It reflects the amount of force with which the bullet exits the barrel. Striking energy is the amount of energy the projectile possesses when it reaches its target. A bullet’s energy at any given instant is determined by only two variables: its weight, and its velocity.
It may surprise some shooters to learn that even though the 44 Mag has incredible stopping power, it doesn’t have a lot of energy compared to many rifle rounds. It’s not even one of the five most powerful handgun rounds. Even so, the 44 Mag’s energy is far superior to nearly all of the handgun rounds commonly employed for defensive applications.
The Black Hills Honey Badger 160 grain bullet has 1,027 ft lbs muzzle energy; the Federal HammerDown 270 grain Bonded SP bullet boasts a significantly higher muzzle energy of 1,763 ft lbs. But take care, because as previously explained, its weight is not the sole factor which determines a bullet’s muzzle energy.
The 44 Mag is optimal for hunting and home defense within ranges 100 yards.
As mentioned earlier, the 44 Rem Mag is not a long-range round. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend the average shooter to attempt firing much further than 150 yards with it. Beyond that range, the 44 Mag bullet’s drop becomes far too dramatic to secure an effective result.
The 44 Mag can be compared to several handgun and rifle calibers, such as the 357 Mag, 44 Special, 454 Casull, 45 ACP, 45 Long Colt and 30-30 Win. See below for several comparisons that will give you a better sense of the 44 Mag’s performance relative to that of other rounds.
Don’t miss our deep dive into the 357 Mag vs. 44 Mag discussion.
We compare everything you need to know about the 44 Special vs. 44 Mag in our article.
Check out our in-depth look at comparing the 45 ACP vs. 44 Mag.
The team at Ammo.com has gathered and answered the most commonly asked questions regarding 44 Magnum ballistics below.
The effective range of a 44 Magnum is about 150 yards. Even when fired out of a rifle, 44 Mag bullet drop is steep – at least relative to more powerful rifle cartridges, like 30-30 or 243 Win.
The 44 Magnum is extremely effective solution to personal defense. It was the most powerful handgun cartridge in the world for a while (although the more powerful 454 Casull already existed when Dirty Harry uttered his famous line, no handgun was available to fire it yet).
Take care that the 44 Mag’s tremendous recoil greatly complicates follow-up fire. Its loud report is likely to temporarily deafen you unless you are wearing hearing protection (especially while you are firing indoors). Furthermore, its heavy, high-momentum bullet is quite likely to over-penetrate the threat and jeopardize the safety of innocent bystanders.
A 44 Magnum rifle is good for hunting medium game and coyote. Its straight case makes it a practical choice for hunting in jurisdictions where bottleneck cartridges are prohibited. Though many would choose a semi-automatic over a lever-action rifle for home defense, we do not dispute that a 44 Mag rifle could do an effective job.
44 Magnum Ballistics Tables From All the Major Ammunition Manufacturers originally appeared in The Resistance Library at Ammo.com.